Embodied Integration: Bridging Somatics and Psychedelic Healing
You may have witnessed the buzz of somatics taking over social media, or weaving its way into the plant medicine and psychedelic space. And yet, like our entheogenic friends, somatics has roots far beyond its recent spotlight. As the world widens in receipt of the psychedelic renaissance, somatics too, is experiencing a resurgence. While certainly body and plant wisdom have been worshiped by cultures long before colonialism, these dynamic powerhouses shared a revolutionary movement back in the early-mid 20th century.
What is Somatics?
We often think nostalgically of our psychedelic era as that of the 1960’s - 70’s. In this same moment of time; flocks of psychologists, dancers, bodyworkers and spiritual seekers gathered to share philosophies; commonly amongst the rocky, evergreen-shoreline of Esalen, in Big Sur California. This merging of contemporary minds met with the burgeoning needs of society at that time, gave birth to the field of ‘somatics.’
The term ‘somatics’ was coined in 1970 by Thomas Hanna, a professor of philosophy and a movement theorist who studied under Moshe Feldenkrais. “Soma,” Greek for ‘relating to, or of the body,’ influenced a wave of body-based perspectives that spawned three distinct disciplines of somatics: somatic psychology, somatic movement, and somatic bodywork. Thomas Hanna’s (of ‘Hanna Somatics’) intent was to describe “the human being as experienced by himself (or herself) from the inside.”
Today, this ability to feel and draw awareness from the happenings within our body is scientifically recognized as our eighth sense, or interoception. Recent research demonstrates the act of giving our attention to these inner-experiences are incredibly helpful in regulating our physiological and psychological responses.Meaning, that as we develop our skills of being attuned to our bodily experiences, our capacity to observe and govern our mindbody becomes more refined and fluid. Therapeutically, the intent of somatics as a field is for our internal awareness to expand our conscious experience into one of greater whole-person coherence.
Why is Somatics Integrative for Psychedelics?
Simply stated; psychedelics speak the language of the body. Classic psychedelics (e.g. psilocybin, DMT, LSD) work with our human physiology in what’s referred to as bottom-up processing. Bottom-up processing is our perception of sensory information, without the influence of higher-level cognitive functions; such as beliefs or expectations. This contrasts top-down processing (and much of our modern day mentality), where higher-level cognitive functions inform our sensory interpretations. Classic psychedelics prioritize our sensorial perceptions, implicit emotions, and memories while relaxing our cognitive hierarchies of self-referential thinking and egoic boundaries. This influx of sensory information is the undercurrent of our subconscious. Stored in the underbelly of our being, they illuminate the unconscious to the conscious mind to be seen and felt, often offering the cathartic experiences associated with our plant and psychedelic allies.
However, conscious awareness alone does not always create the changes we wish to experience. Have you ever found yourself aware of an old pattern or habit, desperately wanting to experience something different, yet no matter your mindset, you cannot seem to will your way to a new behavior? Illuminating the unconscious may incite new neural connections, however physiologically, these connections respond best with tolerable reinforcement. By intentionally providing small, slow exposures to the changes we seek, our mindbody physiology begins to fortify these new connections in sustainable and integrative ways. Integration is the coherence of our whole-person; mind, body, soul, spirit, energy.
The Power of Somatic Integration
When our cells, beliefs, intentions and behaviors experience a greater sense of congruence they synergistically work in coordination. Integration is not a life shy of overwhelm or discomfort, yet facilitates an expanded capacity to be present with challenging experiences. It enhances our ability to navigate environmental fluctuations and return to homeostasis with more ease and efficiency, because greater resources are available to support such.
Assimilating the teachings from non-ordinary states of consciousness allows cognitive understanding to unfurl into an organic state of being. Body-based practices in-form new orientations for us to move through the world. It is a great act of love, respect and reverence to the medicines, lands and carriers of these sacred sacraments to cellularly embody their offerings. Through this continued integrative work after our journeys, we invite reciprocity into our own ecosystem of body and mind. We reduce our mindless consumption of nature's gifts and the exploits of plants, animals, land and peoples. The ripple effects of right relationship echoes into our homes, communities, cultures, society and earth at large. Embodiment is an act of love that permeates every sentient being, emanating from the self, outward.
Cultivating Somatic Integration
How Plants Can Help Us Heal Addictio
How does one participate in their somatic integration after a psychedelic or plant medicine experience? There are endless ways we can explore and invite greater whole-person coherence after our journeys. However, simplifying in the beginning may be easier to digest. So, we’ve listed below a few considerations that may support your process:
Checkpoints - Checkpoints can be helpful to establish a practice of checking in with your body. Think of moments of transitions in your day; when you are waking, leaving to go to work, or picking up your kids. These checkpoints remind us to pause, to get curious about how our body is feeling, and what we may need as we transition from one environment to another. This practice serves as a soft entry where we can begin to build mindbody reciprocity by intentionally acknowledging our bodies experience.
Body Scans - Body scans allow yourself a moment to internally sense what is happening inside your body. It is a great practice to utilize this at checkpoint transitions or anytime you are starting to feel something arise mentally, emotionally, or sensationally. If internally sensing your body feels too loud, overwhelming or intense, try swapping body scans out for visual orienting.
Visual Orienting - To assist building your somatic capacity, or at any time things feel like a lot to be with, intentionally bring your visual attention to your surroundings. Let your eyes move at any pace that feels best, and mindfully notice any objects, colors, textures, that catch your eye.
Observing your Breath - Breath provides us something to observe mindfully and can assist to bring us back into the here and now. Try giving a little extra attention to your exhales if you feel overwhelmed or stressed.
Build a Somatic Tool Kit - It can be nice to begin to find people / places / things that support different needs. Start simple, like an intentional practice for when you need grounding, soothing, or energizing. This tool kit can expand over time, yet having resources identified before you need them makes it easier to access when you do.
Reach Out for Support - Somatics ultimately is relational; how we relate and respond; internally and externally. If you need loving guidance as you navigate nuanced layers of yourself, and how to relate these parts in your world, a body-based professional may be helpful; such as a Somatic Integration Coach or Body Psychotherapist.
Above all, we hope the wisdom of your body is an addition to your arsenal of medicines. Just as the technologies of our beloved plants are ancient, so is your somatic vessel. Be kind and gentle with yourself. Integration is a process. Tend to yourself when you can, as you can.
If you want to learn more about the profound power and wisdom of somatic integration, come with me and the rest of the PMP team for an Ayahuasca Somatic Retreat in Costa Rica, early 2025. We would be honored to have you!
About the Author
Faegann Harlow bridges body-based therapies in their integrative role of mind-body reciprocity. Through curiosity and embodied practices, Faegann finds space in each being to anchor the insights received from our allies, increasing our capacity in receiving, healing, transmuting, creating.... being. Integration at a somatic level serves as an act of assimilation; honoring our role with our relations; nature, self and beyond. With 20+ years in the somatic field of touch, movement and psychology, and 10+ years in plant spaces, Faegann humbly holds Noya Rao, Mugwort and Thyme dietas, as trusted allies in her heart-centered and nurturing therapeutic approach. Trauma-informed through physiological and psychological lenses, Faegann invite science and spirit into a space. The symbiotic nature of our body, psyche and universe want to reveal the mysteries of our own personal magic & medicine. Faegann serves to support and encourage your innate self, whole and perfect.
